Chapter Seventeen
Paige swung the strap of her overnight bag onto her shoulder.
Her eyes swept the studio apartment, nostalgia hitting her like a punch to the gut.
She hadn’t packed all her belongings, so it’s not like leaving meant she’d never see her tiny refuge again.
But she knew, regardless of what happened, once she stepped out the door, she wouldn’t return to live here.
On impulse, she grabbed the framed photo of her and her parents off the shelf.
Ben told her to only take what she needed for a few days, so she hadn’t thought to pack it.
But she couldn’t leave it behind. Wherever she ended up, even if it was temporary, she wanted that piece of her past with her.
She needed the reminder of when things were good in her life, when happiness didn’t seem out of reach.
Carefully placing the frame in her bag, cushioning it among her clothes so it wouldn’t get damaged, she hurried down the stairs and crossed the yard to where Ben waited for her beside his Tahoe, her eyes fixed on the ground in front of her. Eventually, she glanced up, and her steps slowed.
Ben leaned against the front of his SUV.
Standing with him were Birdie Miller, Mona, and Wally.
Paige hadn’t expected them to be there, so she wasn’t prepared for the rush of emotions that assailed her.
She owed these people quite a bit, and she had no possible way to repay them for their kindness and protection.
Ben stepped up to take her bag and give her an understanding smile. Mona approached her and enveloped her in a tight hug.
“I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong.
This is not goodbye. Friends like us never say goodbye.
I fully expect you to come back for a visit.
We’ll enjoy my famous pot roast and caramel cake while we catch up on the incredible life you’re living.
I believe this will happen, and I insist you believe as well. ”
Paige pulled back. “Thank you, Mona. For everything. You’re the best.”
She grinned. “You’re right about that,” she teased. “Take care of yourself, Char— I mean, Paige. That’s going to take some getting used to, but I like it. It suits you.”
“You can call me Charlotte if you want. I still like that name. Who knows? Once this mess is over, I might change it for good.”
Mona shook her head. “I wouldn’t do that. Not when your man there is so fond of your original name.”
Paige’s eyes flickered over Mona’s shoulder to see Ben watching . “He’s not my man.”
Mona giggled. “Try telling him that. He cares about you. It’s written all over him. I’m glad you have him to help, but if he does anything to hurt you, let me know. I don’t care how big he is. I’ll take him out.”
That brought a smile to Paige’s lips. “You’re a force to be reckoned with, Mona. You take care of yourself and keep your man in line for me.”
“Hey, now,” Wally interjected. “I heard that. It’s not me who needs to behave. This one likes to keep me on my toes.
He planted a kiss to Mona’s temple, and the woman’s smile widened.
“I’m sorry to be leaving you with only Betsy to clean the motel,” Paige told him.
“Pfffttt. Betsy, I can deal with. Not having your coffee is going to be hard. That and your company. You’re part of the reason I enjoy going to work every day.”
She hugged him and kissed his weathered cheek. “I love you. I owe you more than I could ever repay.”
Wally shook his head. “It’s what friends do. No need to repay anything. Stay safe. And if you need anything, you know who to call.”
“Yes, I do.”
She approached Ms. Miller, who waited patiently off to the side. Paige didn’t speak as she hugged the older woman lightly.
“Thank you for taking me in.”
Birdie lifted her shoulder nonchalantly. “It worked out well. We needed each other. Listen, I’m not one for teary goodbyes, so let’s skip that part, all right?”
“Deal. See you around, Ms. Miller. You take care of yourself.”
“Don’t you think it’s about time to call me Birdie? And I’m not the one in trouble. You’re the one who needs to watch her back.”
Paige tilted her head to study Birdie thoughtfully. “How much have you figured out?”
“Enough to know that boy you’ve hooked up with…He’s a good egg, as they used to say. He can help, so let him.”
“How can you know that? I barely know him. And I don’t think you know what hooked up means.”
Birdie smirked. “You’d be surprised at what I know. Go, sweet girl. Take care of your business, and when it’s safe, you come back, and we’ll talk about everything. Sound good?”
“It’s a plan.”
A few more hugs and waves were exchanged before Ben and Paige drove away.
“You okay?” he asked her.
“No, but I will be. It’s just…they’re my friends.
They were there for me when I felt alone and lost. They knew I was hiding something, but they never asked me to talk about it if I didn’t want to.
I always thought of this town as my refuge, but it was them.
They were my safe haven. I didn’t realize it until now. ”
Ben reached across and grasped her hand, bringing it to rest on his thigh. “You’ll be back. You’ll see them again. I promise.”
Paige tore her gaze away from the passing scenery and stared at his profile. “You like making promises, don’t you?”
“Only when I can follow through.” He winked at her before turning his attention back to the road.
He kept her hand on his thigh as he drove, and she settled against the seat. Their conversation lulled, so she set his satellite radio to play music. Soon, the stress of the last few days, coupled with the familiar songs, soothed her enough to fall asleep.
∞∞∞
Ben opened the door to his house and motioned for her to step inside. The dark interior soon flooded with light. Paige glanced around, studying the space for insight into the man at her back. Ben secured the door and stepped around her.
She thought his expression was anxious, as if he was concerned with her opinion of his home. He needn’t have worried. It was what she’d come to expect of the man himself — comforting, safe, no-nonsense. With a woman’s touch, it would be perfect.
Paige tucked the thought away, unsure where it came from.
Ben looked around his place as if picturing it through her eyes. “It’s not much, but it works for me. Make yourself at home. I’ll just put your bag in the guest room down the hall, and then I’ll fix us something for dinner.”
An unusual trill came from somewhere in the house, and her face scrunched in bewilderment as she tried to figure out where it came from.
She heard it again a moment before a furry beast came running into the living room.
It skidded to a stop, and through the tufts of hair, golden eyes peered at her.
“That’s Ziggy,” Ben explained. “Don’t mind him. He’s not used to company, but he’ll adjust. I’ll be right back.”
He rounded the corner, and she heard his boots thudding against the floor as he moved down the hall. Ziggy stared at her a moment more before racing after Ben, its distinctive trill echoing through the quiet house. Puffs of gray fur hung in the air before wafting down to the floor.
Being in Ben’s house left her disconcerted.
Taking a page out of his book, she wandered over to a few framed photos he had on the wall.
The frames were made of black wood, the photos nothing more than snapshots.
One was of four young boys, and she instantly picked Ben out.
He was smaller than the others and obviously a bit younger.
Their clothes were mismatched and covered in filth.
Mud streaked their cheeks, but their shit-eating grins split their faces.
Their arms draped over each other’s shoulders.
Ben and his brothers. She was sure of it.
Another picture was of an adult Ben dressed in fatigues and standing with a man she recognized as his guardian, English Barlowe. The shot was overexposed, so the background was too bright for her to recognize where the photo was taken.
The last one was one she’d never seen before, but she remembered the day it was taken.
The elementary school had a harvest festival fundraiser.
Each class sponsored a booth, and the event was open to the community.
The festival was full of games, prizes, baked goods, arts and crafts, and entertainment.
Paige had talked Ben into going with her and her parents.
When they thought she wasn’t looking, her father had given Ben money to enjoy some of the activities, and she remembered having a blast with Ben at her side.
The festival had a game called a cake walk, and Paige remembered their teacher explaining how the game was played.
All she needed to know was that it was like musical chairs, and the winner won the homemade cake that was offered.
When the double chocolate fudge cake came up as the next prize, she and Ben decided to compete for it.
They were certain one of them would win, and they fell over themselves trying to beat each other.
Ben had won the cake, but then he presented it to her.
She insisted it was his, but he told her he didn’t want it.
He only wanted to have fun with her. Their teacher said the gesture was so sweet, she wanted to take their picture.
She captured the image of the two six-year-olds, with their rumpled clothes, messy hair, and crooked grins, holding the sugary dessert between them like it was gold instead of cake.
“I had the best time that day.”
She jerked, her hand flying to her chest. “Where did you come from? I didn’t hear you come back.”
Ben grinned. “It happens. Becky says sometimes I sound like a herd of elephants charging through, and sometimes my footsteps are quieter than church on communion Sunday, whatever that means.”
Paige chuckled. “I’ve never heard that phrase before, but it fits. I’m wondering where you got this picture.”
“I stole it.”
She gaped at him. “Ben, are you serious?”